A man missing for 50-days in the Redfern-Keily Park area 250 kilometres Northwest of Fort St John has been found alive.
Sam Benastick, who has family ties to Williams Lake, was reported missing October 19th after failing to return home after a 10 day camping trip.
North District Corporal Madonna Saunderson said yesterday (Tuesday) morning at 11:30 Northern Rockies RCMP were notified that two people headed to the Redfern Lake trail for work saw a man walking towards them and recognized him as Benastick.
“The two men took him to hospital where police attended and confirmed that he was the man who was reported missing.”
Benastick told Police that he stayed in his car for a couple of days then walked to a creek, mountain side where he camped out for 10 to 15 days.
He said he moved down the valley and built a camp and sheltered in a dried-out creek bed then made his way to where he flagged down the two men and was taken to safety.
“Finding Sam alive is the absolute best outcome,” Saunderson said, “After all the time he was missing, it was feared that this would not be the outcome.”
RCMP thanked the Fort Nelson and North Peace Search and Rescue teams including other Search and Rescue jurisdictions that provided mutual aid support, the Canadian Rangers and many local volunteers with extensive back country knowledge of the area.
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